Management at Aer Lingus has claimed that a decision by the company’s pilots to go on strike over the employment of new pilots at the proposed Belfast hub on lesser conditions than colleagues in Dublin was a “veto on essential progress,” which was “unacceptable and deeply regrettable.”

The company’s 480 pilots are to stage a 48-hour strike next Tuesday and Wednesday in protest at what they said were moves by the airline to employ pilots at its new base in Belfast on less favourable terms and conditions than those applying to staff in Dublin.